Grain handlers at GrainCorp sites across NSW have voted to stop work as part of protected industrial action.
The Australian Workers’ Union which represents the workers said 200+ workers will commence their action with a month of random 1 hour stoppages at grain handling sites throughout the state beginning next Tuesday the 29th.
Grain handlers move and store wheat, canola, barley, oats and other grains including at a number of sites in the New England.
Freshly harvested grains are trucked from rural properties to bunker silos for storage before being loaded onto trains for transport to the coast and then shipped to market overseas.
Harvesting of winter crops has already begun in parts of western NSW and will ramp up in coming weeks.
The Fair Work Commission approved a ‘protected industrial action ballot’ for GrainCorp workers after negotiations with GrainCorp management broke down.
A majority of AWU members employed by GrainCorp have voted to commence industrial action with the result of the ballot declared at 2pm today.
The protected industrial action could include stoppages of 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, indefinite stoppages and bans on unloading and loading of trucks and trains, but may be averted by GrainCorp and the AWU coming to an agreement.
The union claims workers have seen their pay go backwards in real terms over the last three years. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 grain handlers received an annual increase of 2% a year, despite inflation rising at a rate of 2.86%, 6.59% and 4.10% respectively, meaning real wages have declined by 7.5%.
“Our members in NSW do the same work as members in Queensland and only want to be paid the same, that’s the heart of this issue,” said Australian Workers’ Union NSW Secretary Tony Callinan.
“This situation has been bubbling away for months and GrainCorp have been avoiding the tough discussions.
“Now it’s harvest time and the window for talk is fast closing, unless GrainCorp come to the party workers will send a strong message by simply stopping work while the trucks are lined down the road waiting to unload.
“Our members’ have been working hard taking delivery of bumper harvests, delivering big profits, and GrainCorp just kicks them in the guts every time.
“This year has been another good year in most areas across NSW and with the grain harvest beginning our members are prepared to do the hard yards and long hours to get the grain safely stored but they want a fair wage rise and they are prepared to fight for it.
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